Electric switch



H. A. STODDARD. ELECTRIC SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT- 23.1919.

1,403,? 1 8. Patent ad Jan. 17, 1922..

415 'llflnn E5 UNITED STATES PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO MACHEN I HART A. S'IODDAR-D, or PHILADELPHIA,

ELECTRIC MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA,

A. CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

Application filed September 23, 1919.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I. HART A. Sronnann. residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric Switches, of which I declare the following to be a full clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to improvements in electric switches and, more particularly, to improvements in electric switches of the push button type.

The chief object of my invention is to provide an electric switch of such a construction as to meet the specifications and demands of current engineering and building practice and so constructed that the number of parts, and the number of operations required to produce these parts will be largely reduced. In short my object is to produce a satisfactory switch which can be manufactured at a smaller cost than other similar switches with which I am familiar.

Further objects, and objects relating to details and economies of production, operation and construction, will definitely appear from the detailed description to follow. I have accomplished the object of my invention, in one instance. by the devices and means described in the following specifica tion. My invention is clearly defined and pointed out in the appended claims. A preferred embodiment of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification, in which:

Fig. I is a longitudinal section, on the line 1-1 of Fig. II, showing the switch mechanism in side elevation;

- Fig. II. is a plan view of the switch. and

Fig. III. is a perspective view of the switch mechanism removed from the porcelain base.

In the drawings, similar reference numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

Considering the numbered partsof the drawing, I have shown a switch comprising the porcelain base 10 in which the frame member 11 is mounted. The porcelain base 10 has a socket 12 formed therein within which the switch mechanism is housed, there being a cylindrical seat 13 inv which the Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J an. 1'7,

Serial No. 325,693.

base lat the frame 11 is disposed. The

contacts 15 and 16 are secured to the base 10 and extend down at the side of the socket 12- atdiametrically opposite points I thereof.

The frame 11 comprises the base 1 1, the attaching ears 17 and the bridge 18 all of which are preferably stamped or pressed out from asingle metal blank, as shown in Fig. III. The attaching; ears 17 extend parallel to and above the base 14 and the brldge 18 extends above and perpendicular to the base 1 1 in line with one edge of the cars 17. The base 14: is disposed in seat 13 and the ears 17 are fastened in suitable seats 19 formed in the porcelain. A contact arm 20 has,- at each end thereof the upstanding contact blades 21' and'is connected centrally to base 14 by pivot 22 so that it oscillates in a plane parallel to said base.

An operating lever 23 is connected to the central part of bridge 18 by pivot 23 so that 1t oscillates in a plane parallel to the bridge and perpendicular to the contact arm. 1

At the upper end of lever 23 are the laterally extending arms 24, each arm having at its end the laterally projecting portion25 which is notched at 26. Push buttons 27 have the shanks 28 having a keyhole slot 9 by means of which the shanks may be detachably' connected with the notched nortions 25 of the operating lever arms 24. A slot 29 is formed in the lower end of the operatinglever 23 and there is an opening 1 30 provided in one of the contact'blades 21. A spring-guide pin 31 is loosely mounted in slot 29 and opening 30 and carries an abutment 82 havinga curved edge 33 abutting the blade 21 and a washer 34 abutting the lever 23. A compression spring 35 is coiled around the pin 31 and is compressedbetween abutment 32' and washer 34:. Stop shoulders may be struck out-from the bridge 18 to engage the lower edges of arms 24 and i very readily understood. The operating lever 23 is oscillated on its pivot 23 by pushing in one or the other of buttons 27, the-shanks of which are connected to the arms 24 of lever 23. As the lever is oscillated, it will be observed that its lower end alpproaches the contact blade 21 in which t e sprin guide is mounted so that the ment, its position with re erence to the contactblade 21 is such that the pressure of the spring becomes effective to oscillate contact arm 20 until it is sto ped by engagement with a portion of ridge 18. The contacts 15 and 16 are so located that the oscillation of contact arm 20, from one position to the other, brings blades 21 into and out of contact with contacts 15 and 16, thus closing and o ning the circuit.

It will be 0 served that the switch mechanism comprises only five parts, three of which, the frame, contact arm and operating lever, may be made of stampings by very simple stamping operations. This results a in a very cheap construction. Furthermore oted to oscillate in a the assembling oflthese parts is a simple and inexpensive operation.

I am aware that the particular embodiment of my invention, here shown, may be varied considerably without departing from the spirit ofmy invention and, therefore, I

claim my invention broadly, as well as speclfically, as indicated by the appended c aims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In an electric switch, the combination of a base, a contact member centrally piv plane parallel to the base, an operating lever pivoted in line with the pivot of said contact member to oscillate in a plane perpendicular to said base, and a compression spring interposed between said lever and saidcontact member.

2. In an electric switch, the combination of a base, a contactmember centrally pivoted itoloscillate in a plane parallel to the base, Ian operatinglever pivoted to oscillate in a plane perpendicular to said base, a springgmde connecting said lever and said contact member, and a compression spring on said spring guide interposed between said members. a

3. In an electric switch, the combination a la fmme member having a base and a bridge formed integral therewith, a contact member pivdhallylmounted on said base to oscillate in a plane, an operating lever piv:

otally mounted on said bridge to oscillate in a plane'transverse to the plane of the contact member, and a spring connection between said lever and said contact member.

4:. In'an electric switch, the combination of a pair of contacts a contact arm oscillating in a plane parallel to the plane of the base, each end of said contact arm engaging one of said contacts in one position onlyof the contact arm, an operating lever oscillating in a plane perpendicular to the base and a single compression spring interposed between said contact arm and said lever and adapted to shift said arm from one position to another as said compression spring is actuated by said lever.

5. In an electric switch, the combination of a pair of contacts, a contact arm 05011 lating in a plane parallel to the base, an op erating lever oscillating in a plane perpendicular to the base, each end of said contact arm engaging one of said contacts in one position only of the contact arm, a spring guide extending between the contact arm and one end of the lever, and a spring on said guide interposed between the arm and lever and adapted to shift the arm from one position to another as the lever is shifted and to retain the arm in either position.

6. In an electric switch, the combination of a frame member having a base and a bridge extending above and in a plane perpendicular to the base, a contact arm journaled on and oscillating in a plane parallel to the base, an operating lever-journaled on and oscillating in a plane "parallel to the bridge, and a spring interposed between one end of said arm and oneend of said lever and effective to oscillate the arm whenever the lever is oscillated. r V

-7. In an-electric switch, the combination of acentrally pivoted contact arm oscillating in a plane parallel to the base,an operating lever oscillating in a plane perpendicular to the base, aspring guide pin loosely mounted in one end of said arm and one end of said lever, and a spring on said guide-pin allel to said bridge and a spring interposed.

between one end of said arm and one end of said lever.

9. In an electric switch, the combination of a pair of contacts, a contact arm mounted to oscillate in a plane, each end of said contact armcng'agingrone of said contacts in one posit on only of the contact arm, an opcrating lever mounted to oscillate in a plane intersecting the plane of the contact arm, and a single compression spring interposed between the arm and lever and effective to oscillate the arm when the lever is oscillated.

10. In an electric switch, the combination of a centrally pivoted contact arm mounted to oscillate in a plane, an operating lever mounted to oscillate in a plane intersecting the plane of the contact arm, a spring-guide pin loosely mounted in one end of the arm and one end of the lever, and a compression spring on said pin interposed between said arm and lever and eifective to oscillate the arm when the lever is oscillated.

11. In an electric switch, the combination of a frame comprisinga base and a bridge lying in a plane intersecting the plane of the base, a contact arm mounted on the base to oscillate in a plane parallel thereto, an operating lever mounted on the bridge to oscillate in a plane parallel thereto, and a spring interposed between one end of the lever and one end of the arm and effective to oscillate the arm when the lever is oscillated.

12. In an electric switch, the combination of a frame comprising a base and a bridge lying in a plane intersecting the plane of the base, a contact arm mounted on the base to oscillate in a plane parallel thereto, an operating lever mounted on the bridge to osspring on said pin and interposed between i said arm and lever.

13. In an electric switch, the combination of a contact arm oscillating in a plane, an operating lever oscillating in a plane intersecting the plane of the contact arm, said lever having a pair of laterally projecting arms, a push button connected to each of said arms, and a compression spring interposed between one end of said contact arm and one end of said lever and effective to oscillate said contact arm when said lever is oscillated.

14. In an electric switch, the combination of a centrally pivoted contact arm provided with a laterally extending contact surface at each end of said arm, a pair of contacts insulated from each other, an operating lever pivoted to oscillate in a plane transverse to said contact arm, and a compression spring interposed between said operating lever and one end of said contact arm, said spring being effective to retain said contact arm in either one of two positions in one of which said contact surfaces engage said contacts.

In testimony whereof, I ailix my signature.

HART A. STODDARD. 

